Severely disabled boy sues theme park under Equality Act for failing to provide suitable toilet

A severely disable boy is suing his favourite theme park for not providing him with a suitable ‘changing places’ toilet.

Autistic 11-year-old Adam George was born with a genetic condition that weakens his muscles, leaving him confined to a wheelchair.

He requires a changing places toilet that includes specialist equipment – something that Flambards Theme Park in Cornwall does not provide.

Adam, from Redruth, Cornwall, now claims that the park has failed to make suitable adjustments for him and is doing them for discrimination under the Equality Act.

His mother, Rachel, told the BBC: ‘A place like Flambards, a theme park, where they expect people to arrive in the morning, stay all day, eat, drink, stay late for the fireworks show, I personally think it reasonable that I can use the toilet when I go there.

‘So why shouldn’t Adam? Why shouldn’t all disabled people be able to have their toileting needs met with dignity and safety?’

Flambards say they have installed a mobile hoist and a changing bed to an existing disabled toilet but a permanent changing places toilet would cost them £40,000 – which may end up costing jobs.

MOST POPULAR TODAY ON YAHOO

• There’s a country with a lower opinion of the EU than the UK has

• Parents sue 30-year-old son to force him to move out of their home after he refused to leave

• ‘An act of pure evil’: Student who threw acid on ex-boyfriend who later died jailed for 12 years

• Lotto winner Barbara Wragg who gave away most of her £7 million jackpot dies aged 77

• Couple found guilty of murdering French nanny in trial ‘stranger than fiction’

Richard Smith, general manager at Flambards, said: ‘Inclusivity is important to us to make sure that everyone has access to our park and the rides.

‘However, there is an overall cost to put in a full-on changing places unit, and we’ve been quoted in excess of £40,000. That would have an effect on jobs possibly.’

Mrs George said the size of the toilet at Flambards and the equipment do not meet Adam’s needs, and claims a changing places toilet could be installed for £10,000.

The Equality Act 2010 stated that all service providers are under a duty to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to ensure that disabled people enjoy the same experience as the non-disabled.

As an interim measure, Flambards has installed a mobile hoist and a changing bed in an existing disabled toilet.

The Georges’ solicitor, Chris Fry, of Fry Law, said: ‘Adam’s growing up in a more inclusive culture where disabled people quite rightly expect more for their money – if a venue advertises itself as accessible then it really should be fully accessible.’